Photo: Ron Knight from Seaford, East Sussex, United Kingdom / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Himalayan Cuckoo
Cuculus saturatus
Himalayan Cuckoo (Cuculus saturatus) — Cuckoos & Turacos of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 8 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Himalayan Cuckoo (Cuculus saturatus) is a member of the Cuculidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 87 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Cuculiformes
- Family Cuculidae Cuckoos
- Genus Cuculus
- Species saturatus
Where it lives
Himalayas through southeastern Asia to eastern China and Taiwan
Quick facts
- Weight
- 87 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Cuculidae
- Order
- Cuculiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Himalayan Cuckoo is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Himalayan Cuckoo is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Himalayan Cuckoo (Cuculus saturatus) belongs to the Cuculidae family of the order Cuculiformes. It occurs naturally across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR Himalayas through se Asia to e China and Taiwan.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 87 g, with a wing length of about 18.3 cm and a tail of around 14.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 16.8 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Himalayan Cuckoo?
The Himalayan Cuckoo is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 87 g.
Where does the Himalayan Cuckoo live?
The Himalayan Cuckoo is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR Himalayas through se Asia to e China and Taiwan, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Himalayan Cuckoo belong to?
The Himalayan Cuckoo (Cuculus saturatus) belongs to the Cuculidae family, in the order Cuculiformes.
What does the Himalayan Cuckoo eat?
The Himalayan Cuckoo is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Himalayan Cuckoo migrate?
The Himalayan Cuckoo is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Himalayan Cuckoo endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Himalayan Cuckoo make?
1 real field recording of the Himalayan Cuckoo — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Himalayan Cuckoo's range?
The Himalayan Cuckoo has a mapped global range of about 16.8 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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